On a problem by Nathan Jacobson

Abstract: We prove a coordinatization theorem for unital alternative algebras containing 2 x 2 matrix algebra with the same identity element 1. This solves an old problem announced by Nathan Jacobson on the description of alternative algebras containing a generalized quaternion algebra H with the same 1, for the case when the algebra H is split. In particular, this is the case when the basic field is finite or algebraically closed.